We seem to be on a truck fling here at CC, so let’s keep it going – kind of. Through much of my life, the El Camino was not a novelty, it was just there. Like Walter Cronkite on the news and telephones with dials, El Caminos were just part of the background. Nobody in my family or neighborhood or circle of friends owned one. I don’t believe that I have ever even ridden in one. For most of that time, I didn’t really care to. But at some point, just like the old news anchors and rotary phones, the El Camino just sort of faded away. It is too bad, because it was an interesting idea.

Like the Satyr – that mythical creature that was half man and half goat – the El Camino was the combination of two distinct natures. We won’t go through their whole history of Chevrolet’s half car-half pickup other than to say that after the original 1959-60 Impala based version, the vehicle reappeared in 1964 on the Chevelle chassis, where it would remain until the end. Through every version of the Chevelle/Malibu of the 60s, 70s and 80s, the El Camino was part of the lineup. And they were not alone. Ford was usually right in there with the Ranchero, giving those of us more disposed to Fords an alternative to the tidy little Chevy ute. Ford bowed out when the LTDII line expired in 1979. Although the Fox platform could have made the best Ranchero since the Falcon version, we will never know, and Chevrolet finally had the market to itself by 1980.

The 1978 Chevelle/Malibu was not (in my view) a particularly attractive car. As with the new Caprice the year before, the downsized Malibu was more about substance than looks. It was kind of plain, even a bit homely. Sedan, coupe or wagon, there was no flow in the lines. The car was all brick. But for the first time ever, the El Camino was the style leader of the line. The El Camino brought back a little of the old Bill Mitchell magic with curves, flow and style. Look at the concave curve of the rear glass and rear cab, and the graceful sweep of the sail panel as it flows into the bedside. Was there any other vehicle from this time period with lines this graceful? This was par for the course a decade or two earlier, but was extremely unusual styling in the late 70s. And in a truck(let), no less. This was a good thing, because we got to look at the car for 10 years, through the 1987 model run.

I will confess that I had to work up some enthusiasm to write about this vehicle, but my effort was rewarded. Actually, I learned some fascinating facts about these cars. Although the 78 Malibu was downsized from the 77, the El Camino actually got a 1 inch increase in wheelbase, to 117 and a chassis that was shared with no other Chevrolet. What it did share was its front clip with the Malibu, its rear bumper/tailgate with the Malibu wagon, and its doors with the Monte Carlo. This may be one of GM’s most successful cut and paste jobs of all time. Style-wise, it is tough to distinguish the years of these. The grille was changed to the eggcrate design in 1982, and that was about it. As near as I can deduce, this car is an 82 because it has the new grille, and the unique copper color (Light Redwood Metallic – a favorite of mine) which did not carry over to 1983. But I don’t know my 80s Chevy trivia that well, so please step in if I require a little more education.

Rather than finding this car, it sort of found me. It passed me as my daughter and I were driving to Sam’s Club for 5 gallons of pickles or something. It suddenly dawned on me that I had not seen one of these in ages, and this one was actually pretty nice. As I pulled into Sam’s parking lot, there it was. Although I was not fast enough to catch the driver, I got some decent pictures. While these came with an assortment of V6 and diesel engines built by various GM divisions (as they used to say) this car has the Chevrolet 305 V8, which sounded quite pleasant as it passed me. Up close, this car has been very well cared for through its nearly 30 year life. But it sports still another 80s GM hood with dull paint.

I was always pretty ambivalent about the El Camino, and was even a mite hostile towards the 73-77 version, which I didn’t care much for at all (along with its Chevelle/Malibu sibling). But this fresh look at the car has been a positive experience for me. The powertrain was pretty well sorted out (if you could avoid the miserable THM 200), they resisted the tinworm better than most and they are quite pleasant to look at. The sportiness of a 2 seater, the utility of a truck. What’s not to like here?

So if this was such a great idea, what happened to it? Not fully a truck or a car, the market was always limited. The ute may be part of the social fabric down under, but they never got much traction in the US. These sold pretty steadily from 40 to 60 thousand units per year through the 70s and up to 1982, when demand dropped to about 25 thousand annual units for the rest of its life (with a dropoff in its last year). Let’s start with the fact that the car had gone virtually unchanged for 10 seasons. Unless you are selling police cars, this is not usually a winning plan.

But I think that The El Camino’s bigger problem was Chevy’s own S-10 which, coincidentally, arrived in 1982, the year of the older vehicle’s big sales drop. Maybe the market just valued utility over style, something that the S-10 delivered. Another major factor was the death of the other vehicles with which the El Camino shared its components. Low volume is fine when it supplements a lot of Malibus and Monte Carlos. But the Malibu was gone after 1982 and the Monte was dead by 88. With the rest of the mid sized rear drive platforms gone, the El Camino finally withered and died.

It is funny that it took me this long to really notice that they were gone. And after thinking about them for a bit, I kind of miss them. This may actually be my favorite 80s Chevrolet. This vehicle was unique in the 80s, and I am always in favor of anything that brings its own flavor to the automotive smorgasbord. The El Camino did this very well. And a pleasant flavor it was.

26 Comments

I liked the Oldsmopile. This is the only version of the El Camino that I really like. I’ve always had a preference for clean and simple design, so the baroque excess of the earlier ones leave me cold. I still see them fairly often, but they’ve mostly now fallen into the hands of the resto-mod hotrod set around here.

Perversely, the first (60-63) Falcon-based Ranchero is my other preference in this segment. But that’s because my dad had one when I was growing up. Still miss that truck.

If and or when I start seriously shopping for a light-duty truck to go with the F350, I’ll look for something like this in preference to a compact conventional pickup. (But I’ll buy the first decent example of anything I see that’ll fit down the driveway of my current biggest client.)

I’m glad someone other than me, recognizes it for the stylish rendition it was. I’m predisposed against GM cars; but I’d make an exception for something along these lines.

I’m receptive to the car/truck ute, too…I always thought it was a slick package. I liked the 1972 Ranchero; but this is more trim, muscular along with the curves. And better on the gas mileage…all things relative.

The one I REALLY wanted to get was the Rampage, however; and I was ready to go with a new job, just passed the probationary period…when the plug was pulled.

It was just not to be. There’s an LTDII-based Ranchero for sale near here; but at its age, and my age, it’s going to have to wait for a more-motiveated owner.

California emissions dictated the Buick 231 V-6 under the hood. The 305 was not available in the sedan, only wagon and El Camino. My Dad bought a 81 Sedan which he hated and later purchased a gray 82 El Camino with a 305.

A group of enthusiasts still think the Pontiac ST (SportTruck) importing the Holden Ute rebadged was the best of the last GM Marketing ideas. Alas, it also died in committee.

That was true in both 1981 and 1982. In those years, the smaller 267 was the only V8 available in the Malibu coupe (dropped after 1981), Malibu sedan, and Monte Carlo. The 305 was available in those models in 1980 and earlier years, and was made available again in 1983 (the Malibu’s final year) after the 267 was canned.

It always seemed to my that a Ute like this had neither the space, comfort, and economy of a car nor the utility, ruggedness, and load capacity of a pickup. I can see how it would be useful in a specialized place like the outback but not round here.

Compared to a small Japanese pickup (or even a basic full-size truck), they were also pretty expensive. In OZ, where they’d end up being a family’s only car, they were popular, but here, I think the El Camino and its GMC sibling only topped 100,000 units (combined) once or twice.

Well, they weren’t intended for serious work – not for commercial hauling or maintenance.

The market would be the one that buys many of today’s half-ton trucks…the single guy; the guy with a suburban home who needs to occasionally haul a lawn tractor or salt bags.

Interior space, and I’ve sat in a few, is just about the same as with the front seat of the comparable sedan. Although the seat doesn’t recline; and you can bump your head on the back glass…just like with an older truck.

I think they fit in terms of need and even economy; what sank them was they didn’t radiate the image. In the 1950s, when these were first conceived, the pickup truck was driven by Errol from Ace Maintenance; or by the hired hand down at the ranch. But the general IMAGE of the full-size pickup truck changed; and it was image most private owners were buying.

“Ute” is an abbreviation of “Coupe Utility”. Think “2-seater with open bed” and it starts to make more sense. It’s a small but distinct market segment. For someone who doesn’t need or want 4 seats, but wants the ability to toss dirty crap in back, or occasionally carry something that won’t fit into a trunk.

Utes are popular out here as tradesmans vehicles Holdens or Falcons will carry a tonne happily and pull 2tonnes with out the need of a licence upgrade but the next step is the Japanese cabover not a US style pickup those really are a fashion statement not a workhorse no tipping decks too long in front too high and far too expensive.

I was in Aussie-land for about a month in 1994…saw a lot of utes; NEVER saw ONE SINGLE American-style pickup. A few tarted-up Chevy vans with either Holden or Bedford badges, can’t remember; but no North American box-behind-cab rigs.

If they were there; if they were legal and affordable to be licensed and run; and if fuel were affordable…they would probably have displaced the Holden utes.

And remember, too, not all utes are created equal. There’s this rig and the comparable Ford unit…they were called, in the day, “glamor pickups.” Then there was the VW Golf-based ute…absolutely NOTHING glamorous about it. It was a work vehicle; and the biggest reason it didn’t do so well in the American market, I’m convinced, was that the cab was Euro-sized. Large American bods just didn’t fit.

But the two were opposites, although basically the same class of vehicle. The Holden ute, as I remember it, fits somewhere in between…closer to the VW than to the El Camino.

Ford Australia produced F100 utes for many years but no they arent popular any more weak steering assy a big problem they do not cope well with bad roads, those vans were Bedfords powered by Holden or Transits by Ford. The Aussie ute is far more Elcammino than VW gawd what an insult and came as cab chassis 1 tonners. NO way the NA pickups could displace local utes its been tried. NZ still get Chevy trucks new not sure about OZ but they are hardly seen there are a couple of older models roaming around here but not common at all, $10 gas doesnt help even diesel is $1.45 per litre and a Japanese cabover is better for a work truck than the NA pickup. it carrys twice as much for the room and fuel costs

F series were built in Australia until the early/mid 90’s but always as a niche vehicle due to their size and cost – they are not suited to the standard size carpark for starters. Going back to the 70’s Chev & Dodge were around also. Mostly 3/4 or 1 ton not 1/2 ton though. The market split between Japanese pickups or low-end medium duty cab-overs, or Aussie Ford & Holden utes if you want more comfort and better driving quality.

The ‘only car’ thing would only work with small children or if you were willing to ride in the tray – pre-seatbelt era basically.

Ford also brought some in from Brazil in the early 2000’s, they sold well enough but I think but an emissions change (I think) stopped it. Otherwise there is a small industry importing mainly HD pickups but they are $$$$, easy to spend over $100k due to having to convert to RHD and compliance.

There are also a few El Caminos and Rancheros on the classic/muscle-hotrod scene, I have seen one very similar to the subject car, but in restored condition

You won’t believe this (you probably will!), but when these came out, I questioned that odd slice of quarter window – no, I did not expect it to open!, but it reminded me of the small quarter sliver window glass on the AMC AMX – a shortened Javelin, for those who don’t remember.

Eventually I accepted that extra glass as adding visibility, so I came around. I never owned an El Camino, although I lusted after one when the 1968 SS 396 models came out. Now, those were really sharp!

An old friend showed up with his wife at my dad’s funeral in one – either a 1978 or 1979 model all done up in two-tone paint. Pretty sharp.

Mikey, my El Camino education continues. My friend Wikipedia says that the Sprint ran from 71-77. It was renamed Caballaro for 78 and ran along with the El Camino for the rest of its days. I knew about the Caballaro, but had completely forgotten about the existence of the Sprint. A Sprint would be absolutely lethal in a CC Clue!

That was my first thought, when was the last time you saw a GMC Sprint or Caballero?

As interesting an idea as this may have been, unfortunately, where I grew up at least, El Caminos and Rancheros seemed to be associated with mullets, which wasn’t a good thing (although a Falcon-based Ranchero might not carry that stigma).

When I was growing up I knew one guy that used an Elky as a real truck. It was an 82 GMC Caballero Conquistador. It was in stunning shape except for the bed and lower rear quarters. He used it to mix concrete and mortar for small jobs for about 10 years. Once the “car” couldn’t do it’s job anymore he dumped it. Kind of sad in a way, if he were 2 years earlier it may have been my first “real” car instead of my 73 Chevelle Deluxe.

A friend I once hung with for a week in the mountains had one, a ’79 (i believe) Blue Knight edition. It still had the original paint and pinstriping. It furthermore had a rebuilt Chevy 350 engine in it and every kind of stock gauge on the dash (SS?). The power windows worked, but the thing kept blowing its head gasket. We called it a “chevy disaster.” I don’t hold the head gasket saga against it since that wasn’t the car’s stock engine. Most importantly… that week I acquired a healthy dose of respect for the Elky. In a word, it was fun to drive and ride in. Flooring it from a stop on wet pavement was an adolescent dream, and it handled like one too. My friend was going to completely restore it. I hope he has, this was a while ago now and we haven’t kept in touch.

These are surprisingly popular today. There always seems to be a few well-preserved El Caminos for sale at various Carlisle shows. A fair number of collectors use them for their “everyday” vehicle.

Ford did commission a few converted Fairmonts from National Coach Corporation. It was called the Durango (yes, the name later used by Dodge!), and built in the early 1980s. They featured a Fairmount Futura front, with a pick-up bed and Futura taillights, and weren’t a bad-looking vehicle, although they don’t look as “substantial” as the final generation of El Caminos. Less than 250 were built.

I associate this car with “the bad Element”… Maybe some Painting Equip or Pool Clean Equip in back… Handyman, but nothing in particular…

I knew someone who had like a 74-77 possibly El Camino… it was Grey Primer mostly… and he Went away, losing control of that, as well as his 78 ltd coupe bROGHAM OR laNDAU IDK, but it was trimmed with RED Vinyl top, PW, PL, Red cloth seats… It was a Match for early 77 Impalas… not the Maxed out Top of the line… Creme or white I Dont rem.
Grey?silver…. I just rem I should have bought it cheap from him, but I didt answer the call…

I NEVER Wanted to even experience steering that trapped out contraption…
I always thought that era Chevys were PIGS…even the Chevelle series.
I MUCH Prefer the 78 on Pontiac Lemans Camino… Im more of a Pontiac man for the same car most I prefer the Pontiac to the Chevrolet.

WOW I saw this exact ute in traffic today a rare car in NZ and thanks to evrybody here I knew exactly what I was looking at also saw a nice Auburn a few times an art deco visitor a good day car spotting

Wow – an Auburn. A 35 or 36, the end of the line for the company. Built in Auburn, Indiana, about 30 mi from where I grew up. The factory showroom has been restored and contains a very good classic and special interest car museum.

You either love the Elky or…not. I agree about the roofline/sail/rear window appearance…flowing, graceful. If I could just scrape up the cash to replace the rear bumper with a roll pan, the whole appearance would improve. Those early ‘crash resistant’ bumpers were ugly!

So I’ve had an ’85 for about twelve years now. Replaced the worn-out 267 with a mildly modified 350 with Corvette TPI. I get better mileage than the 267! 700R4 gives me overdrive.

Why spend the money?

Didn’t want these huge new 1/2 ton trucks, and wanted a better ride than most small p/ups have, since most of the time this thing only hauls my fat butt, sometimes on long highway trips. But I’ve hauled everything and anything, including towing a pretty big travel trailer halfway across the Southwest and back, so if it’s set up right, an Elky will do the job.

Could I have bought a new truck with the $ I’ve spent over the years? Sure. But today it would be a twelve year old truck and nothing special. My Elky gets envious looks and about twice a year someone wants to buy it. It needs cosmetics and I’d love to change that flat front fascia for the Monte SS aero nose…anyone care to contribute to the fund?

Like any other obsession, Elkies tend to get under your skin. With good chassis work (urethane bushings do wonders) and the 350hp V8, the thing actually handles (I’ve got a Miata, I know what handling means). Lots of secure storage behind the seats, btw.

Sure, I’ll sell mine, but you probably can’t afford it. If GM would only bring in the OZ Ute, I’d buy one.